Widnes 2-3 Ashton Town

Despite a late fight back, Widnes began their 2015/16 league campaign with a defeat as the Whites were beaten 3-2 by Ashton Town at the Select Security Stadium. The loss means that Widnes’ wait for an opening day win goes on as they are still yet to pickup all 3 points in their opening fixture of each of their first 3 seasons in the NWCFL First Division.

Manager Steve Hill fielded eight of his summer recruits in the starting lineup as Gage Walsh, who made history in the game by becoming the first Australian to play for Widnes, was preferred to Rob Cork in goal.

Robert Gilroy, who didn’t appear in the hosts’ pre-season games was handed a start on the right-hand side of the four-man midfield with Josh Williams and Paul Hynes leading the line for Hill’s side. Defenders George McGrogan and Jordan Stanley were also handed competitive debuts alongside midfielders Tom Hackett and Daniel Burthem.

The visitors, Ashton Town, also handed debuts to multiple players, most prominently Danny Coid, who was promoted three times with Blackpool in a 13-year spell between 1998 and 2011.

The visitors took the lead inside the opening minute. Straight from the kick-off, debutant Coid tried his luck from distance with a long-range shot that caught out the backtracking Widnes keeper Gage Walsh as the ball sailed into the back of the net. The goal from the former professional is widely believed to be the fastest goal in the history of the NWCFL, with the midfielder netting the opener within the first five seconds.

Taken aback by the speed of the opposition’s opener, Widnes had to regroup and reassess earlier than they would have liked. Their first shot of the game fell to striker Josh Williams, who saw a free-kick comfortably gathered by Town keeper Joe Clements.

Aside from the very early goal, the opening 20 minutes was rather even, with both sides content to battle for possession and limit their opponent to half-chances in the early exchanges.

Midway through the first-half, Widnes keeper Walsh pulled off a phenomenal double-save to prevent Ashton from doubling their lead. A corner from the left was met by a great header from Michael Wynne that was pushed away by Walsh, who was up on his feet quickly to deny a shot from Town skipper Sean Robinson from point-blank range. It was a terrific piece of goalkeeping from the debutant between the sticks.

Widnes had to rely on Walsh again two minutes later. Robinson burst forward for Town, away from the chasing defender Jordan Stanley, leaving the striker in a one-on-one situation with the Widnes keeper, who did well to recognise the danger and close down the angle, diving at the feet of the visitors’ skipper to make the save.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, Widnes equalised. A corner from the right by Robert Gilroy wasn’t properly cleared by the Ashton defence, with Gilroy being presented with a second chance to send the ball into the area that fell to an unmarked Tom Hackett, who marked his debut with a goal as he tucked the ball home, beneath the on-rushing Clements.

Shortly afterwards, the visitors regained the lead. The ball was pumped forward to Town forward Neil Weaver who got to the ball ahead of Walsh, before lobbing the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net with what was an excellent finish.

John Brownrigg’s side increased their lead minutes later. Town captain Robinson managed to skip away from his man and advance into the area before rounding the keeper and tucking his effort home from an acute angle to complete the quick fire double for the visitors, handing his side a two-goal cushion.

On the stroke of half-time, Widnes failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity to pull a goal back. Jamil Campbell-Joseph did well on the right as he won the ball in the midfield before advancing towards the area. He played a ball across the face of goal that evaded everyone, falling to the late arriving Paul Hynes who missed the target with his effort. Hynes had the goal at his mercy and should have scored.

Halftime: Widnes 1-3 Ashton Town

The second-half saw the hosts improve as a unit, limiting the visitors to shots from distances whilst creating chances as they chased down a two-goal deficit. Brandon Goudie was brought on shortly before hour-mark as manager Hill attempted to shake things up going forward.

With 25 minutes remaining, Widnes pulled a goal back. After Paul Hynes won a free-kick roughly 25 yards from goal, fellow debutant Josh Williams took the set-piece himself and found the bottom corner with his effort, curling the ball beyond the out-stretched Clements to give his side a fighting chance of coming away from their opener with at least a point.

Spurred on by the hosts pulling a goal-back, Ashton changed their philosophy, knowing a further goal would put the game beyond all doubt. Winger Daniel Griffiths had a penalty shout turned as he tangled with Alex Davies. The referee got the decision right as Davies did extremely well to dispossess Griffiths and concede a corner.

They struck the woodwork as time began to wind down. A free-kick from the left was met by the swinging foot of forward Neil Weaver, whose unorthodox effort towards goal struck the frame of the goal before Widnes promptly averted the danger.

Widnes began to push for an equaliser. A lovely flick from Williams played the ball into the path of Goudie, whose cross into the area was headed over by Campbell-Joseph. Shortly afterwards, skipper Tom Mitchell burst forward for Widnes before playing the ball into the path of Hynes, who fired a tame shot on goal that was easily gathered by keeper Clements.

Despite the continued efforts from Widnes to rescue a point, Ashton held on for all three points as Widnes succumbed to their third consecutive opening day defeat.

Fulltime: Widnes 2-3 Ashton Town

Manager Steve Hill was disappointed with the manner in which his side conceded goals. “We conceded sloppy goals especially when you concede more or less straight from the kick-off, it put us on the back foot from the get-go. In the second-half, we controlled the game a little bit more but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb that let us down in the end.”

Next week, Widnes travel to Stockport Town as they are the visitors in the newcomers’ first-ever home game in the NWCFL. Stockport ran-out 3-2 winners away at Hanley Town on the opening day of the season.

Widnes: Walsh (GK), McGrogan, Mitchell ©, Davies, Stanley, Burthem, Gilroy (Goudie 57), Hackett, Williams, Hynes, Campbell-Joseph.

Subs not used: Parry, Mavers, Cork (GK).

Ashton Town: Clements, Bromilon, Hammed, K. Dailey, Wynne, Munroe, Ellis (Kwofie 84), Coid, Robinson ©, Weaver, Griffiths.

Subs not used: McNally, Worsley, S. Dailey.

Man of the Match: Gage Walsh.